Georgian Appeals Court Upholds Akhalaia Acquittal

Bacho Akhalaia, who has been in pretrial detention since November 2012, has now been acquitted of charges in two trials since his arrest.

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Georgian Appeals Court Upholds Akhalaia Acquittal

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The Tbilisi Court of Appeals has upheld the acquittal of Bacho Akhalaia on charges involving torture and the inhumane treatment of seven special task force servicemen when he served as Georgia's interior minister in 2012.

Akhalaia, who has remained in pretrial detention since November 2012, has been acquitted of charges in two trials since his arrest.

In October, Akhalaia -- who also served as defense minister -- was found guilty of using excessive force in suppressing a 2006 prison riot in which seven inmates were killed.

He was sentenced to nearly four years in prison.

Former President Mikheil Saakashvili pardoned Akhalaia for that conviction before leaving office in November 2013.

Several trials into other charges against Akhalaia are still pending.

Akhalaia denies any wrongdoing, saying all of the charges against him are politically motivated.